1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

I’m writing to urge you to support continued federal funding for the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) and other wastewater monitoring programs. This system has become one of the most cost-effective and reliable early-warning tools for detecting infectious-disease outbreaks and emerging biosecurity threats. Wastewater monitoring gives public-health officials a way to see trends in community infection levels before people seek medical care or testing. It has proven invaluable for tracking COVID-19, influenza, RSV, and even early signs of H5N1 bird flu. Today, wastewater data cover nearly half of the U.S. population, helping local and state health departments act faster and target limited resources more efficiently. However, federal funding for this program is set to expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Without congressional action, much of the national monitoring network could shut down, leaving millions of Americans without access to an early warning system that protects both public health and national security. Sustaining this modest investment will save lives and reduce future emergency costs many times over. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter and for your leadership in keeping our country prepared for the next public-health threat.